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Spark of Glory emerges as a classic prospect

By Sharan Kumar | 21 Nov 2003 | BANGALORE


Spark Of Glory (R. Thomas up) winner of the V.Gopal Memorial Plate being led in by trainer S.Padmanabhan and owner P.Arun Kumar & Mrs. Rashmi P Arun Kumar

Padmanabhan trained Spark of Glory recorded a smashing win en route to heralding his arrival as a classic prospect on Friday. Despite looking gross and making a comeback after a setback in training which kept him out of action for the entire monsoon season, the son of Razeen won in a manner which should mark him as a horse to watch in the Hyderabad classics. The striking acceleration, which left the field for dead in the final furlong, augurs well for this talented gelding.

There were just six runners in the fray and Star Again who had recorded an impressive win in his last essay, was the firm favourite. The well-bred son of a Group III winning mare Formidable Fight, was expected to improve on his previous effort and have a bold show but he went down without a fight and plodded home to be a dismal third. Pacemaker Olden Times stayed on in front to finish second best. Olden Times set a fast pace, with Indian Native, Star Again, Spark of Glory and the rest following in close attendance. Prakash made the first move on Star Again approaching the final bend and took a striking position even as Frenchman Ronen Thomas had to maneuver his position on the wide outside on Spark of Glory. The Padmanabhan trainee put in a sparkling turn of foot when asked for an effort and went away for a win by a widening margin of eight lengths. Considering the style of win, Spark of Glory should be a force to reckon with in the classics.

 

Generic Emperor who had gone down narrowly in controversial circumstances in his last run during the Summer season, justified the favouritism by winning the Linganamakki Cup, over seven furlongs, with a striking run from the rear. Generic Emperor had gone down narrowly after being allowed to run freely in front the last time out but this time, Frenchman David Badel waited with him in the rear and managed to work his way through the crowded field in the middle of the track and won going away from King’s Pride who had threatened to cause an upset. Mystic Heights finished on to be third.

 

After waiting for a considerable time, Trap A Spy had come to the desired handicap and duly obliged at nourishing odds. All the last three wins of Trap A Spy have come in the same class. The last win of Trap A Spy had come in this class in February. Trap A Spy led the field from the word `go’ and lasted out comfortably to win from Anonyme and a late-finishing Ek Ek Ek who unlike the previous instance was not prominent at the front. Favourite Figaro put up a dismal show. Earlier, in the day’s opener, similar tactics of waiting for eternity to get Sworn Silence to the right mark in the lowest class failed to yield the desired result. Sworn Silence, who was a serious runner for the first time since more than a year, was flat-footed by Apollo Reef. Sworn Silence lost even the runner-up berth to Montserrat.
 
Millennium Magic had won impressively over a sprint at Mysore despite the trip proving sharp for him. Now running over an extended trip of seven furlongs, Millennium Magic wore down the challenge of favourite Khalsa close home to win at nourishing odds. Khalsa had come in for inspired support and had the first run on his opponents but faltered when the heat was on. Baracudda was third ahead of Radical Velocity who continues to disappoint.
 
Romance In Rain hit the front as the starter dispatched the field for the mile long trip in the Planetarium Stakes and stayed put to win at fancy odds. Permia ran on from behind to take the second spot ahead of Dust On The Bottle who had come in for inspired support in the ring. In the concluding race of the day, Lago Maggoire and Chequered Flag were fancied in equal measure but the latter failed to sustain her effort after hitting the front inside the final 250 metres and the Arjun Mangalorkar trainee won with a great deal of comfort.